Serena Williams Back in Wimbledon Final

Serena Williams defeated unseeded Petra Kvitova in the straight sets Thursday to reach her third straight Wimbledon final and sixth overall.

The top-ranked Williams overcame a stiff challenge in the first set from the 62nd-ranked Czech player, then pulled away her for a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory.

Williams is now one win away from her fourth Wimbledon title and 13th Grand Slam championship.

She advanced to Saturday's final against the 21st-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva, who rallied to beat Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the day's first match on Centre Court and reached her first major title match.

It's the 10th time in the last 11 years that at least one of the Williams sisters has advanced to the final. Venus and Serena have won eight titles.

Serena has never beaten anyone other than her older sister in the championship match. Serena defeated Venus in the 2002, 2003 and 2009 finals.

Serena has a 12-3 record in Grand Slam finals and will be heavily favored to beat the Zvonareva. Williams has won five of their previous six matches.

"Vera's a great player who I had some of the unbelievable matches against her so she's really tough," Williams said. "I feel like I have nothing to lose going into the final and she doesn't either so it will be good."